The USGS Astrogeology Science Center conducts research on caves. In particular, we are interested in the physics of caves, which involves the application of the principles of heat transfer, mass transfer and meteorology to understand how cave climates evolve.
We are also interested in caves on other planetary bodies and moons, and how they may be used as resources for future missions.
Cave Climate
Caves have their own meteorological conditions inside. The long-term trends of those conditions is what we refer to by "cave climate". Caves generally have areas where temperature, relative humidity, ambient pressure and winds vary diurnally as well as seasonally.
Ice Caves
We are studying ice caves. Ice caves are rock-hosted caves that contain perennial ice deposits. Ice caves occur on Earth even in warm, arid areas such as Arizona. Ice caves are interesting because they are frequently very sensitive to the external climate.
Fundamental science and engineering questions in planetary cave exploration
Science and technology requirements to explore caves in our Solar System
Mars Astrobiological Cave and Internal habitability Explorer (MACIE): A New Frontiers mission concept
Martian cave air-movement via Helmholtz resonance
Candidate cave entrances on Mars
On developing thermal cave detection techniques for earth, the moon and mars
THEMIS observes possible cave skylights on Mars
- Overview
The USGS Astrogeology Science Center conducts research on caves. In particular, we are interested in the physics of caves, which involves the application of the principles of heat transfer, mass transfer and meteorology to understand how cave climates evolve.
We are also interested in caves on other planetary bodies and moons, and how they may be used as resources for future missions.
Cave ClimateCaves have their own meteorological conditions inside. The long-term trends of those conditions is what we refer to by "cave climate". Caves generally have areas where temperature, relative humidity, ambient pressure and winds vary diurnally as well as seasonally.
Ice CavesWe are studying ice caves. Ice caves are rock-hosted caves that contain perennial ice deposits. Ice caves occur on Earth even in warm, arid areas such as Arizona. Ice caves are interesting because they are frequently very sensitive to the external climate.
- Publications
Fundamental science and engineering questions in planetary cave exploration
Nearly half a century ago, two papers postulated the likelihood of lunar lava tube caves using mathematical models. Today, armed with an array of orbiting and fly-by satellites and survey instrumentation, we have now acquired cave data across our solar system—including the identification of potential cave entrances on the Moon, Mars, and at least six other planetary bodies. These discoveries gaveScience and technology requirements to explore caves in our Solar System
We are in the incipient phase of exploring the subterranean realm of our Solar System. Planetary caves research offers interdisciplinary, cross-planetary body investigations spanning geology, climatology, astrobiology, robotics, and human use. Caves are of great importance in advancing our understanding of planetary processes and the search for life beyond Earth. Given these advances, a diverseMars Astrobiological Cave and Internal habitability Explorer (MACIE): A New Frontiers mission concept
Martian subsurface habitability and astrobiology can be evaluated via a lava tube cave, without drilling. MACIE addresses two key goals of the Decadal Survey (2013–2022) and three MEPAG goals. New advances in robotic architectures, autonomous navigation, target sample selection, and analysis will enable MACIE to explore the Martian subsurface.Martian cave air-movement via Helmholtz resonance
Infrasonic resonance has previously been measured in terrestrial caves by other researchers, where Helmholtz resonance has been suggested as the plausible mechanism resulting in periodic wind reversals within cave entrances. We extend this reasoning to possible Martian caves, where we examine the characteristics of four atypical pit craters (APCs) on Tharsis, suggested as candidate cave entrance lCandidate cave entrances on Mars
This paper presents newly discovered candidate cave entrances into Martian near-surface lava tubes, volcano-tectonic fracture systems, and pit craters and describes their characteristics and exploration possibilities. These candidates are all collapse features that occur either intermittently along laterally continuous trench-like depressions or in the floors of sheer-walled atypical pit craters.On developing thermal cave detection techniques for earth, the moon and mars
The purpose of this study is to (1) demonstrate the viability of detecting terrestrial caves at thermal-infrared wavelengths, (2) improve our understanding of terrestrial cave thermal behavior, (3) identify times of day when cave openings have the maximum thermal contrast with the surrounding surface regolith, and (4) further our understanding of how to detect caves on Earth, the Moon and Mars. WeTHEMIS observes possible cave skylights on Mars
Seven possible skylight entrances into Martian caves were observed on and around the flanks of Arsia Mons by the Mars Odyssey Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS). Distinct from impact craters, collapse pits or any other surface feature on Mars, these candidates appear to be deep dark holes at visible wavelengths while infrared observations show their thermal behaviors to be consistent with su